Planning for Your Surgery
Preventing Infection
Preventing infections is of the utmost importance, and though infections rarely happen, there are things you can do to lower your risks. Since the skin is the most common source of infection, we offer these suggestions:
- The night before surgery, take a shower using a new bar or liquid antibacterial soap (i.e. Dial). Wash and rinse thoroughly and put on clean clothes. On the morning of the surgery, repeat the process and again, put on clean clothes.
- Do not apply lotions, creams or powders.
- Do not shave the area where the surgery will be performed.
- Keep your flu and pneumococcal vaccines current.
- Urinary catheters may or may not be placed. Although they are convenient, catheters greatly increase the risk of urinary infection. The shorter the catheter is in place, the better.
- Hand hygiene by you, your family and visitors is very important.
- Don’t be afraid to remind all healthcare providers to wash or sanitize their hands before providing your care. It is OK and highly encouraged that you help remind us to wash or sanitize our hands.
